You mean this isn't the country club? We're not all best buddies? We're done being "professional?" Everyone isn't meeting for tea and crumpets? "This isn't miniature golf" (TM Danica Patrick) and "We're not in a bowling league" (TM Sarah Fisher)?

Well, you may say this could hurt Helio's feelings. It's "tasteless." It's "classless."

Dude, W-T-F-ever, OK? This is racing, not crochet. The series desperately needs some passion, some emotion, a more raw-and-reel vibe. Helmet throwing, Doug-Boles-"WE-GOT-SCREWED"-screaming, finger-pointing, tear-wiping EMOTION.

(F-BOMB) everyone "playing nice." To show you how starved we are for any kind of edge, when the relatively mild sign above was tweeted out, the overwhelming response was some version of "oh hell yes!"

It can never be personal, profane or spiteful, but the kind of thing captured by the photo above is exactly what IndyCar needs far far more of. Lock the lawyers, corporate censors, hyper-sensitive and over-thinkers in a convenience store restroom somewhere and let's light this candle, 'Kay?

April 29, 2011

Sources within IndyCar said Friday that Buddy Rice's return to the series was spurred in part by the appearance of Kimi Räikkönen on the American racing scene.

Sources who asked not to be identified said Rice was IndyCar's effort to fight for the audience segment attracted by the "flat-brimmed, too-large-looking cap" style favored by both drivers.

"We're going to fight NASCAR for every fan," said the insider, "so when we heard that Kimi was coming to the NASCAR truck series, we knew we had to have someone who could pull off the 'wearing-your-dad's-cap' look."

Type in www.versus.com into your browser and WHAM, you now get redirected to http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/. Under the "Motors" tab you'll find an ESPN-ish presentation of motorsports news.

The browser header (faaar upper left on your screen) says "NASCAR News -- stay current with the latest" yada yada yada. Spank you very much! No IndyCar-only tab that I can find, although I have not looked exhaustively. There is an IndyCar Section on the page, though.

This seems to be time to bang the drum slowly for Jeff of One Lap Down and Roy Hobbson, former Versus.com blogger/columnist types who were not included in the assimilation.

April 28, 2011

You Tube video of Erin Crocker winning the winged sprint feature at Carolina Speedway on April 15. After said win Erin made contact with a car driven by husband Ray Evernham and flopped her car over the back of the track and "out of the park" as sprint car peeps say. Story explaining what happened HERE.

It's FREE, family oriented deal that features a live show of “Trackside with Cavin and Kevin” along with special guests, Indianapolis 500-related auction items, giveaways and much cash raising for charity.

Among the auction items: two VIP passes for all remaining IndyCar events (donated by Randy Bernard) that provide pit and gate entrance to every event. Bazinga. Other drivers often donate stuff for auction as well. Random Indy 500 drivers always show up and mingle.

All proceeds benefit Indianapolis-area children’s initiatives, including the St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf and the Children’s Museum Guild. Curty is ably assisted in a side-kick-like fashion by his Trackside co-host Kevin Lee.

The Burger Bash has raised about $35,000 for charity so far. So make your plans to attend.

April 26, 2011

Graham Rahal, Scott Goodyear, Sebastian Saavedra, Martin Plowman and Gustavo Yacaman are among the drivers who will be participating in the IndyCar Ministry Golf Outing May 12 at Brickyard Crossing.

Proceeds go to support IndyCar Ministry, a not-for-profit, non-denominational organization which offers counseling and Christian religious services to members of the IndyCar community, both in Indianapolis and at each IndyCar racing venue.

The cost to participate in the outing is $1000 per foursome. Individuals can sign up for $250 and be placed with other other single sign-ups.A team may consist of four players of your choice or you can opt to have a celebrity join your three golfers to complete the foursome.

ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, April 23, earned a 1.5 final national household coverage rating, averaging 1,990,000 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company.

The rating was the highest for the Spring race at Nashville since ESPN began televising the event in 2007. Last year’s race earned a 1.1 rating while the 2009 race earned a 1.3 rating.

Across all ESPN networks so far this season, the NASCAR Nationwide Series is averaging a 1.6 U.S. rating, up from a 1.4 average at this point last year.

April 25, 2011

Dog lovers get on the rev limiter! Join the 8th Annual Mutt Strut around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 1. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Indianapolis.

Per their web site ...

Serving Indianapolis and the surrounding counties since 1905, the Humane Society of Indianapolis provides vital services to animals and people alike through sheltering and adopting animals, providing positive reinforcement behavior training for both adoptable animals and for owned animals through our public training classes, and outreach through our community and shelter programs.

You can register as an individual, create a fundraising team or join an existing team, like the Sarah Fisher Racing Mutt Strut Team led by Sarah's wonder dog, Wrigley. No dog required to particpate.

pressdog's dog Chester says do it! Get more information on the schedule of events and how to show your support at IndyMuttStrut.org.